Digital image processing composition using face detection information

Abstract

A method of automatic or assisted recomposing of digital image processing uses face detection. Pixels that correspond to a face within a digital image are identified. A re-compositioned image is based on spatial or other parameters of the detected image, particularly in relation to the entire digital image or other portions of the image.

1. A method of digital image processing using face detection, comprising:
 a. identifying a first group of pixels that correspond to a face within a digital image including comparing one or more detected luminance variations between sub-groups within said first group of pixels with one or more expected luminance variations of digital facial images; 
 b. identifying a second group of pixels that correspond to another feature within the digital image; and 
 c. determining a re-compositioned image including a new group of pixels for at least one of the face and the other feature, wherein the new group of pixels is determined based on one or more characteristics of the first or second groups of pixels, or both. 
 
   
   
     2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said method is performed within a digital image acquisition device as part of the acquisition process. 
   
   
     3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein said determining a re-compositioned image includes displaying the re-compositioned image within said digital image acquisition device prior to capturing the image. 
   
   
     4. The method of  claim 3 , further comprising a user approving the re-compositioned image prior to said capturing of the image. 
   
   
     5. The method of  claim 2 , wherein said determining a re-compositioned image includes displaying the re-compositioned image within said digital image acquisition device prior to acquiring the image. 
   
   
     6. The method of  claim 5 , further comprising a user approving the re-compositioned image prior to said acquisition of the image. 
   
   
     7. The method of  claim 2 , wherein said determining a re-compositioned image includes displaying the re-compositioned image within said digital image acquisition device as part of a playback mode. 
   
   
     8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the other feature comprises an eye, a lip, nose, an ear, hair line, nose bridge, chin, neck, shoulder, or torso, or combinations thereof. 
   
   
     9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the other feature comprises at least one additional face. 
   
   
     10. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising displaying one or more grid lines on the re-compositioned image to assist a user in evaluating the re-compositioned image. 
   
   
     11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein said one or more grid lines are based on composition aesthetics guidelines. 
   
   
     12. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising automatically generating the determined re-compositioned image. 
   
   
     13. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising automatically providing one or more re-composition options for generating the determined re-compositioned image. 
   
   
     14. The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a. displaying a plurality of re-composition options; and 
 b. allowing the user to select an instance of said plurality of options. 
 
   
   
     15. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining values of one or more parameters of the first and second groups of pixels and determining relatively-adjusted values. 
   
   
     16. The method of  claim 15 , further comprising automatically generating an adjusted image using the relatively-adjusted values of the one or more parameters of the first and second groups of pixels. 
   
   
     17. The method of  claim 15 , further comprising automatically providing an option to generate an adjusted image using the relatively-adjusted values of the one or more parameters of the first and second groups of pixels. 
   
   
     18. One or more processor readable storage devices having processor readable code embodied thereon, said processor readable code for programming one or more processors to perform a method of digital image processing using face detection, the method comprising:
 a. identifying a group of pixels that correspond to a face within a digital image including comparing one or more detected luminance variations between sub-groups within said first group of pixels with one or more expected luminance variations of digital facial images; 
 b. identifying a second group of pixels that correspond to another feature within the digital image; and 
 c. determining a re-composited image including a new group of pixels for at least one of the face and the other feature, wherein the new group of pixels is determined based on one or more characteristics of the first or second group of pixels, or both. 
 
   
   
     19. The one or more storage devices as recited in  claim 18 , wherein said processor is located within a digital image acquisition device. 
   
   
     20. The one or more storage devices as recited in  claim 18 , wherein said method is performed within a digital image acquisition device as part of an acquisition process. 
   
   
     21. The one or more storage devices of  claim 20 , wherein said determining a re-compositioned image includes displaying the re-compositioned image within said digital image acquisition device prior to capturing the image. 
   
   
     22. The one or more storage devices of  claim 21 , the method further comprising a user approving the re-compositioned image prior to said capturing of the image. 
   
   
     23. The one or more storage devices of  claim 21 , wherein said determining a re-compositioned image includes displaying the re-compositioned image within said digital image aquisition device prior to acquiring the image. 
   
   
     24. The one or more storage devices of  claim 23 , wherein the method further comprises a user approving the re-compositioned image prior to said acquisition of the image. 
   
   
     25. The one or more storage devices of  claim 21 , wherein said determining a re-compositioned image includes displaying the re-compositioned image within said digital image acquisition device as part of a playback mode. 
   
   
     26. The one or more storage devices of  claim 18 , wherein the other feature comprising an eye, a lip, nose, an ear, hair line, nose bridge, chin, neck, shoulder, or torso, or combinations thereof. 
   
   
     27. The one or more storage devices of  claim 18 , wherein the other feature comprises at least one additional face. 
   
   
     28. The one or more storage devices of  claim 18 , wherein the method further comprising displaying one or more grid lines on the re-compositioned image to assist a user in evaluating the re-compositioned image. 
   
   
     29. The one or more storage devices of  claim 28 , wherein said one or more grid lines are based on composition aesthetics guidelines. 
   
   
     30. The one or more storage devices of  claim 18 , wherein the method further comprises automatically generating the determined re-compositioned image. 
   
   
     31. The one or more storage devices of  claim 18 , further comprising automatically providing one or more re-composition options for generating the determined re-compositioned image. 
   
   
     32. The one or more storage devices of  claim 31 , wherein the method further comprises:
 a. displaying a plurality of re-composition options; and 
 b. allowing the user to select an instance of said plurality of options. 
 
   
   
     33. The one or more storage devices of  claim 18 , wherein the other feature comprises a second face. 
   
   
     34. The one or more storage devices of  claim 18 , wherein the method further comprises automatically generating the determined re-composited image. 
   
   
     35. The one or more storage devices of  claim 18 , wherein the method further comprises automatically providing an option for generating the determined re-composited image. 
   
   
     36. The one or more storage devices of  claim 18 , wherein the method further comprises determining values of one or more parameters of the first and second groups of pixels and determining relatively-adjusted values. 
   
   
     37. The one or more storage devices of  claim 36 , wherein the method further comprises automatically generating an adjusted image using the relatively-adjusted values of the one or more parameters of the first and second groups of pixels. 
   
   
     38. The one or more storage devices of  claim 36 , wherein the method further comprises automatically providing an option to generate an adjusted image using the relatively-adjusted values of the one or more parameters of the first and second groups of pixels. 
   
   
     39. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the new group of pixels comprises a replacement of substantially all of the pixels in the first group. 
   
   
     40. The method of  claim 39 , wherein the new group of pixels is provided by applying fill flash or auto-focus, or both, to the face. 
   
   
     41. The method of  claim 39 , wherein the new group of pixels is provided by applying zooming or panning, or both, to the face. 
   
   
     42. The one or more storage devices as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the new group of pixels comprises a replacement of substantially all of the pixels in the first group. 
   
   
     43. The one or more storage devices as recited in  claim 42 , wherein the new group of pixels is provided by applying fill flash or auto-focus, or both, to the face. 
   
   
     44. The one or more storage devices as recited in  claim 42 , wherein the new group of pixels is provided by applying zooming or panning, or both, to the face.